Punchboard game device



Oct. 6, 1953 v. K. SMITH PUNCHBOARD GAME DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMarch 27, 1950 F E PLAY [GMT MOTQR.

S HAFT INVENTOR. VERNON K. SMITH To OTHED.

LIGHTS 50 g s c5 ATTORNEY? Ill v 1222:: a a (J Oct. 6, 1953 v. K. SMITHPUNCHBOARD GAME DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1950 INVENTOR.VERNON K. SM \TH Oct. 6; 1953 v. K. SMITH PUNCHBOARD GAME DEVICE 3Sheets-Sheet 5 am 9 RE 6 Filed March 27, 1950 IN V EN TOR. VERNON K.SMITH ATTO'QNEYS nil-5 mm 7 2. WI, m; E.-

FIG. 5

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES E ATENT OFFICE.

PUNCHBOARD GAME DEVICE Vernon K. Smith, Boise, Idaho Application March27, 1950, Serial 'No. 152,018

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a punchboard game device, and moreparticularly to a punchboard formed in a manner to resemble a slotmachine and operative with an electric circuit which is excited upon theremoval of a selected punch from a punchboard.

It is an object of this invention to provide a punchboard supported in acabinet, the cabinet being designed and formed to resemble a slotmachine, the punchboard device of this invention having an electricalattraction circuit which is activated upon removing a punch from thepunchboard. A series of lights, chimes, and other attraction devices areconnected to the electrical circuit which is excited upon the removal ofa punch from the punchboard.

Another object of this invention is to provide a game device of thiskind having a counter connected to the electrical attraction circuit forregistering the number of punches which have been removed from thepunchboard.

An alarm is also connected to the electric circuit for warning anattendant when an operator is using the machine in an unauthorizedmanner.

A further object of this invention is to provide a guide member orsupporting device in the cabinet which is to be matched by theparticular design of the punchboard in such a manner that onlypunchboards designed particularly for the machine may be insertedtherein. lihe punch boards are removably supported in the cabinet sothat they may be replaced when any one of the punchboards has beendepleted. An electrical switch is connected in the attraction circuitand is operated by the insertion of a proper type of punchboard.

A still further object of this invention is, to pro vide a punchboardwhich is provided with bores for supporting the punches therein, thecores being formed at various angles to the front surface of thepunchboard in a manner to provide for the prevention of removal of aplurality of punches at a single time in an unauthorized manner.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an electric motorwhich is operatively connected to the attraction circuit and isoperative for rotating an electric contact member which is connected toa separate electric alarm or attrac tion device which is operative onlywhen the rotatable contact member comes to rest in com tact with avfixed contact member, such motor and contact members constituting achance element which is to be rewarded. by a free play when suchcontacts remain in engagement after a player has completed a play on themachine.

With the. abovesand other objects in, view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front and one side of the gamedevice constructed according to an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken behind the front face of thecabinet and looking rearwardly therein;

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.;

Figure 4, is an electrical wiring diagram of the electric circuitembodied in the game device;

Figure 5 is. a front elevation of the rotatable contact members embodiedin the chance element of this device and showing the forward face of themotor employed for actuating the rotatable contact member;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sideelevation, partly broken away and partlyin section, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a front elevational view of a support plate carryingelectrical switches which are alternatively closed when punches arepunched from the associated punch board;

Figure 8 is a rear elevation, partly broken away, of the punch-boardsupporting means;

Figure 9- is a top plan view, partly broken away, of a punchboardparticularly designed for use in the game device of this invention;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary transverse section, partly broken away, andpartly in section, taken on the line ill-10 of Figure 9.

Figure llis, a rear perspective and fragmentary transverse section,partly broken away, taken on line l0l 0. of Figure '9, of a punchboardparticularly designed for use in the game device of this invention,showing the slick rear surface thereof, and the manner of retaining thepunches spaced inwardly in the board to prevent the snag pieces ofretaining paper from extending rearwardly to the rear surface of theboard.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 29 designates generally a gamedevice constructed according to an embodiment of this invention. Thegame device 20 is, actually a punchboard supported in a cabinet toresemble a slot ma,- chine. It is noted that slot machines have aparticular attraction, whereas punchboards have a lesser attraction, andit, is an object of this invention to provide a supporting cabinet and aplurality of electrically operated attraction devices to, be actuatedupon removing a punch from the punchboard in a manner to resemble a slotmachine and in related attractive movement,

The game device 26 is provided with an outer cabinet formed with anenlarged, rectangular base and having a vertically extending front wall22 terminating at its upper end in a rearwardly and upwardly inclinedupper wall 24. A forward ly and upwardly inclined rear wall 25 isterminated at its lower end on the rear edge of the bottom wall 26, andat its upper end on the rear end of the top wall 24, clearly noted inFigure 3 of the drawings. The total assembly of the walls describedabove is to resemble the general characteristics of a slot machine ofthe type having the rotatable reels or members which are actuated uponswinging of a lever pivotally mounted on one side thereof.

The front wall 22 is provided with an enlarged, substantiallyrectangular opening 21, behind which the punchboard 28 is adapted to besupported for removing the punches therefrom by a player of the machine.A channel guide member 29 is fixedly supported on the rear side of thefront wall 22 at the lower edge thereof, behind the opening 2?, and anupper longitudinally extending channel guide member 36 is fixedlysupported on the upper edge of the open ing 21 on the rear-side of thefront wall 22, in the manner clearly noted in Figure 3 of the drawings.The upper channel guide member 30 is positioned at an inclination to thelevel bottom wall 26 and the lower channel guide member 29, and thepunchboard 28 is provided with a peripheral surface whereby thepunchboard may be slidably engaged between the channel guide members 29and 3!] for proper positioning therein, so that the punches in thepunchboard may be readily reached by a player from the front of themachine reaching through the opening 21'.

An intermediate supporting wall 3| is fixed within the cabinet 2|,extending upwardly from the bottom wall 26 intermediate the lengththereof. A supporting plate 32 is fixedly mounted on the intermediatewall 3| in spaced relation thereto. A plurality of bolts 34 are engagedthrough the intermediate wall 3| and the supporting plate 32 and aspacer sleeve 35 is engaged about the bolts 34 between the intermediatewall 3| and the supporting plate 32, in the manner clearly noted inFigure 3 of the drawings. The intermediate wall 3! is provided forsupporting the supporting plate 32 behind the punchboard 28 within thecabinet 21 and facing the opening 2'! on the. inner side of thepunchboard contained within the guide channels 29 and. 30. A pluralityof switch elements are adapted to be fixedly mounted on the supportingplate 32 to be actuated by a contact plate 36 suspended behind thepunchboard 28 for swinging movement upon removal of a punch therefrom. Apair of resilient coil springs 31 are engaged between the bottom wall 25and the lower edge of the contact plate 36 and a second pair ofresilient coil springs 38 are engaged between the intermediate upperwall 39 and the upper edge of the contact plate 35 for suspending thecontact plate for free swinging movement within the cabinet 2|.

A plurality of switches 40 are supported on the supporting plate 32 tobe actuated upon movement of the contact plate 35 rearwardly in thecabinet 2|. The switches 46 include a rear, resiliently mounted contactmember 4! and a forward, movable contact element 42, the forward contactelement 42 being engageable on the rear surface of the contact plate 36,whereupon the contact elements 4| and 42 will be moved into engagementupon rearward swinging movement of the contact plate 35, and bothelements will move rearwardly to permit the punch to be received betweenthe contact plate 36 and punchboard 28. The switches 40 are arrangedwith relation to the contact plate 36, whereupon a pair of such contactelements 4! and 12 will be substantially positioned at the corners ofthe contact plate, as clearly noted in Figure 7 of the drawings. Pegs t3are carried by the contact plate 38 about the periphery thereof forengagement with the rear side of the front wall 22, to space the contactplate rearwardly therefrom. A center coil spring 44 is engaged betweenthe center of the supporting plate 32 and the center of the contactplate 36 for constantly biasing the contact plate 36 outwardly in thedirection of the punchboard 28, and the resiliency of the spring 44 willprovide for positioning the contact plate 36 in slightly spaced relationfrom the punchboard 28, whereby a channel i5 is defined therebetween. Acup-shaped funnel 46 is disposed at the lower edge of the front wall 22of the cabinet 2! for removing the. punches as they are punched from thepunchboard 28. Each punch, as it is punched from the punchboard, willeffect the swinging of the contact plate 36 for closing at least one ofthe switches 40 which is connected into the electrical attractioncirouit 41.

The electric attraction circuit 41 contained within the game device 2%],described above, derives its energy from a transformer 48 which isadapted to be connected to a conventional volt alternating currentgenerally employed in homes, stores and other places where such a gamingdevice may be employed. The transformer as is adapted to be connectedonly to the attraction circuit 41, and a second transformer 49 will beconnected to the inlet for the transformer 48 for illuminating the fixedlights 50 which may be supported on the front wall or face of themachine 2 I, as clearly noted in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. Thelights 52 are adapted to be constantly in the circuit, whereas theattraction circuit 47 will only be energized upon playing of the device.

The attraction circuit 41 is provided with a master switch 5| supportedin the cabinet 2! and the narrow end of the channel guide means definedby the guide channels 29 and 30. The master switch 5| is provided with acontact element 52 which faces in the direction from which thepunchboard 28 is engaged, whereupon the engagement of the punchboard 28into the channel guide means will effect the closing of the masterswitch 5|, the master switch being normally biased to an open position.

Upon removal of a punch P from the punchboard 28, the contact plate36.will engage at least one of the movable contact elements 42 of theswitches 40 for closing and energizing the electric circuit 4?.Immediately upon closing of the electric circuit $1, a solenoid orelectromagnet 54 will be energized for actuating a chime 55 supportedwithin the cabinet 21 and noted in Figure 3 of the drawings. Also, uponenergizing the circuit 41, a second solenoid or electromagnet 56 will beenergized for vibrating or otherwise actuating the contact plate 36 assuspended on the springs 3'! and 38. The bumping solenoid 56 includes anarmature 5'! which engages the upper edge of the contact plate in themanner clearly noted in Figure 2 of the drawings,

the bumping of. the contact plate 36 providing for the loosening of anypunches which may be frictionally engaged between the contact plate 36and the punchboard 28 spaced forwardly there from to provide for thefree sliding movement of. the selected punches downwardly through thechannel 45 and outwardly through the lower funnel-shaped opening 46.

Anattraction light 58 is connected in parallel with the chimes solenoidand the bumping" solenoid, and will be illuminated at the time eachpunch is removed from the punchboard 28. The attraction light 58 may beviewed through an attraction window, or glass wall, 59 on. the upperwall 24 of the cabinet 2|, the attraction window 59 being provided withsome sort of attractive decoration, as the four-leaf clover noted inFigure 1 of the drawings. An electrically operated counter member 5a isalso connected in parallel with the solenoids and light 53, the counter60 being viewable through a window ti extending upwardly from the upperwall 2%, as clearly noted in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

The electric motor $2 is also connected in parallel with the solenoids,the light 58 and the counter 58 to be energized as each punch is removedfrom the punchboard 28'. A circular supporting disc 64 is positioned atone end of motor 62 for supporting a fixed contact element 55 to beengaged by a rotatable contact element 56 carried by the motor shaft 6?.Upon closing of the attraction circuit il, the motor shaft 81 will becaused to rotate and the movable contact element 65 will be caused tosweep about the surface of the supporting disc 5 and come in contactwith the fixed contact "element 5 at one point during each rotationthereof. There will be no definite timed relation between the selectionof punches from the punchboard. and the rotation of the motor shaft 61,so that the element of chance is introduced into the gaming device, thechance being when the fixed contact element 65 will be engaged by therotatable contact element 66 and remain there until the circuit lishould be again energized for further rotating the motor shaft 6?. Inother words, upon completion of the circuit 47, the motor 62 will becaused to operate and in the event that the rotatable contact element toshould come to rest on the fixed contact element 65, a free play wouldbe awarded. It is understood that as the shaft Bl rotates, the movablecontact element will continually pass over the fixed contact element 65and cause a flickering of the indicating light 68 which is connected tothe fixed contact element. A buzzer or other alarm device 69 isconnected in series with the free play light and the rotatable switch itdefined by the contact elements 55 and (it, whereupon an alarm will besounded when the rotatable contact element has come to rest on the fixedcontact element 55. The buzzer or alarm 69 would be intermittent in itsoperation during the rotation of the shaft 6?, but will be continualwhen the rotatable contact element 66 comes to rest on the fixed contactelement 65.

As the operation of the attraction circuit 41 will be quite intermittentduring the proper playing of a game, an alarm device H is connected inparallel with the solenoids, the lights, the counter and motor 62, thewarning element H being of an audible nature to be set into continuousoperation in the event that a punch P is caught in the channel 45 or inthe event that the gaming device 20 is being operated in an 6unauthorized manner, whereupon the punches would not slideireely'forremoval. from the opening 46.

The punchboard 23 is particularly designed for the gaming. device 26described above and; is formed with a plurality of apertures or bores 12therethrough, in which. the punches P are adapted. to be engaged. Therear surface M of the punchboard 2a is of a more rigid nature than thematerial from which the punchboard 28 is generally formed, such as paperor the like, to provide for the free. sliding movement of the punches.therethrough. in a manner to prevent the accidental snagging of thepunches P in the rear ends. of the bores 12, this structure be.- ingparticularly designed for the free movement of the punches P as they areselected for removal from the punchboard.v to be dropped through thechannel 45 and out through the opening 45 for the player. By placing theslick rear surface: 14 on. the punchboard, the punches are normallyretained within the board spaced inwardly from. the. rear face, so that,upon removal of the punches, the small, snagged pieces of paper whichnormally retain the punches in the board. and may at times extendrearwardly from the board when. the punches are removed will be. withinthe board to provide a slick surface on the punchboard to obstruct thefree slid ing movement of the punches P in the space 55 in no manner.

In order to provide a safety feature for the punchboard 28, it isintended that the direction of the bores 72 shall not be parallel andthat no parallel relation will be provided between adjacent bores 12. Inthis manner, no comb-like device having a plurality of parallel prodsmay be used for removingv a plurality of punches P at a single time; Inother words, one of the bores '32 may be a bore perpendicular to theplane of one face of the-punchboard Z8, and the adjacent bore, as thebores Ito and I22), will be disposed at. an angle outwardly from thebores E2, or the bores adjacentthe first bore. 'lZ-may be disposed at anupward and downward inclination. An indicating device 5-5 is shown onone end of each of the punches P for indicating the direction ofinclination of the bores, but it is understood that no such indicationwill be used on the punchboard in use. In Figure 9 of the drawings, theindicating elements it are clearly noted, and those punches P without anindicating device I5 are adapted for straight punching or perpendicularto the front and rear surfaces of the punchboard 28. The bores 52a whichare inclined at one direction from the perpendicular are indicated bythe indicating elements 15a, and those punches in bores 72b are providedwith indicating elements 15b. Those punches which are secured in boreswhich are inclined upwardly are provided with an indicator element 720,and those in the downwardl inclined bore have an indicating element 12d,as clearly noted in Fig ure 9 of the drawings. The showing of the angledbores in the punchboard is merely exemplary, as it is understood thatvarious angled rearrangements may be employed and in different sequencesand arrangements.

In the use and operation of the gaming device 20 described above, thelead lines or wires 8! and 82 may be connected to a conventional type ofelectrical plug 84 for connection into an electrical socket of aconventional formation. Upon engagement of the plug 84 into the socket,the attraction lights 50 will be energized for indicating ammo-7 thatthegaming-device 2Il:is:set fonnperation. The person. desiring. .to playthe device. 20 will-pay the cost of selecting a punch to an attendantand then may .ernployxthe punching device. ,8 5 ior removing a selectedone of the punches PM A handle83 is fixed on'the punching'device, andis. pref.- erably formed as a rabbit .foot or. other. attractive andsuperstitious good'luclc piece. As thepunch Eisslidably'moved from itsrespectiveborein the punchboard, the punch Bwill engage the contactplate 3.6 for moving the contactlplaterearwardly within the cabinetil.and: closing at least one of the spring switches d l Upon closing of thespring switches. 4L. the: circuit 4'? will be closed. and the bumpingsolenoid fifiiwill .be energized for bump:- ing the contact: plate 353.and .efiecting thejfree sliding movement of theselected punch 'Pdown-Wardly through thechannel'memberilfi and. outwardl'y through theopening.46.. ..',AS .the contacts ti and 52 arein engagement'the chimes 55,actuated by the solenoid 543 will ring'and the light 58 will beenergized. .'Also,:the.rnot,or.62 will be rotated, and. in the eventthat the rotatable. contact. elenientfit comes torestin'engag'ement.with the fixed contact element 65, .the free. playlight 68 will beconneoted in the circuit and the buzzer 69 willbeconnected for continued operation. .As each punch P is removed fromthe punchboard, the counterfill will be energized fortotaling the numberof. punches taken. The free .play light is viewed through a window 63 inthe front wall ofthehousing.

In the event that thewarning bellor'other audible element .1! is incontinual operation; the

attendant, through the gaming device-Z8, will be 7 placed on notice that.the gaming device is being used in an unauthorized manner, or that apunch P has'beeome lodged between the punchboard 28 and the contactplate. Stifor maintaining "the circuit ll in a constantlyclosedcondition.

The punchboard 28 may be inserted into' the machine through an opening85 on one of the side walls of the cabinet, theopening 86 being adaptedto be closed by. a door or closure member $1 having a key locked thereinfor securing the closure in a closed position. The opening 85 providesfor the free sliding movement of the punchboard 23 into and out of thechannel guide-members 2t and 39 on the rear side of the front-Wall 220ithe cabinet 21. l 1 I 8 .I;do;no t meanto confineimyself to theexactde;tails-.of construction; herein disclosed, but'claim all variationsfalling within; the :purview. of the appendedclaim. .;.i.;;-

.lclaim: if. 5, V

- ,A. amedevice comprising. a: housing having. a iront Wall providedwith an. opening, a. punch board removably mountedin. said housingattheinner side of said front wall and in registry. with said opening andhaving, punches'therein selectivelygmovable outof said'punch board. andin:- wardly. of said housing, a contact. plate resiliently suspended insaid housing adj acentand substantially parallel to the side of saidpunch board disposed inwardly of .said housing and movable awayfrom'said punch board by. punches punched-from said punch board,. asupportplate fixedly mounted in said housing-adjacentiandsubstantiallyparallelto the side of .saidcontact plate remote from saidpunch board, J normally open resilient switches mounted in spaced apartrelationship on said-support plate at the side of the latter adjacentsaid contact plate and closed-at random by said. contact plate when thelatter is moved away from said punch board','and an electriesignalcircuit including said switches in parallel-and signal devices in serieswith said switches, said signal circuit includingan electricallyactuated vibrator mounted on said housing and engaging said contactplate to free punches caught in the space betwee'n saidpunch boardandsaid contact plate and cause such punches'to fall-to the bottom-of saidspace. I H r I v r I VERNON K. SMITH.

References Cited in the fileiof patent' UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number NameDate 1,834,572 "Brewer Dec. 1 1931 1,946,736 Frey L Feb. 13, .9342,006,620 Barrett July 2 1935 ;2,333,002 Goldbordko Oct. 26.19432,406,603 Hadesbeck Aug. 2'7, 1946 2,490,325 Schmidt DBC. 6, 19492,511',925 L olnbalfdd 'June 20, 1950 2,531,674 Doumitt Nov. 28; 1950FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 431,173 j Great Britain'iein; July2;;1935

